Dyeing and like machine



June 17, 1930. c. s. BEDF ORD DYEING, AND-LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 20,, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 11, 1930. c. s. BEDFORD DYEING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 19 30. c, s, BEDFQRD 1,763,945

DYEING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.1l.

. v I /////////////////////A 29 2s 8 A30 f? 2 43 %fi I: 5 7 5 I z 52 l i' d I QM W Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES ATNT DYEING AND LIKE MACHINE Application filed December 20, 1928, Serial No. 327,381, and in Great Britain December 31, 1927.

This invention relates to dyeing, mordanting scouring and like machines,'the chief object being to provide a new or improved machine more particularly though not exclusively, for use in the treatment of light fabrics such as natural or artificial silk materials, cotton piece fabrics and mixtures of cotton or wool or both with natural or artificial silk, such machine being of the type comprising a dye vat or trough containing a pair of winding rollers for the material under treatment, automatic sliding clutch mechanism being provided whereby when the material has been wound from one roller to the other the drive is reversed and the material wound back onto the first roller and so on until the material has been sub jected to sufiicient treatment.

According to the invention, the alternately driven rollers and fabric are almost or to tally submerged in the dye or other liquor in the vat or trough and the automatic reversing sliding clutch mechanism is adapted to be operated by a pivoted lever actuated by a cord or tape passed between winding barrels geared to the winding rollers in the trough or vat. g

It has been found that when the machine is being used successively for different styles of fabric the tape, cord or wire is liable to get out of order owing to the variation in tension of the fabric or material, and should the tape, cord or wire become slack it is liable to become entangled with the gearing.

Also, when as is customary several pieces of material are joined together the length of the fabric may attain as much as 600 yards, in which case it is desirable that the length of tape be maintained within prac- 49 tical limits.

\Vith a view to preventing Or taking up slackness of the tape, cord or wire, thereby ensuring a more perfect reliability in action, I interpose resilient means between the gear :50 spring may be mounted between the gears rels.

illustrates amodifica-tion, I v H Figure -7 1s a long tud nal section of a wheels and the winding barrels associated and winding barrels with the extremities of said spring connected to the gears and wind mg barrels respectlvely, whilst the gearing site reduction in speed of the winding bar- In order to prevent or at least Illllllmize damage to light fabrics such as natural or artificial silk material, cotton piece fabrics, and mixtures of cotton or wool or both with natural or artificial silk the alternately driven winding rollers, which are almost or totally submerged in the dye or other liquor in the vat or trough, are adapted to afford to the fabric being wound thereon a resilient surface which ensures of the fabric being wound, evenly without folding or creasing and consequent cutting or damaging or uneven treatment by the dyeing or other liquor. In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be more fully described with reference to and by the aid of the accompanying drawings. wherein Figure 1 is a front end elevation of the machine and Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing how the spring is mounted between the gears and bobbins. i

Figure 4- is an end view of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation ofa roller according to one embodiment. I

Figure 6 is a similar View to Figure5 but roller embodying the invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation of a further modification of roller.

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively an ele- 'vation and a sectlon of a slide grip.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical section through the machine, looking in the opposite direction, from the end elevation shown in Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a View similar to Figure 11, but looking in the opposite direction.

Referring. to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine comprises a vat or trough 1, containing a pair of winding rollers 2 thema cord or tape 17 which passes through mounted upon tubular or other shafts 3' can riedin bearings 4 secured to verticalmem bersof frames5 adapted to be slid into positionpwithinthe vat or trough 1' between vertical guides 6, said rollers 2 being almost or totally submerged in the dye or other liquor (not shown) and carrying between 7 them the material 7 undertreatment in full or open width.

ries above its roller 2 and the top of the :t -roughor vat 1 a longitudinahshaft 8, and

Each of the frames 5 car the roller shaft 3 is gearedto said shaft 8 a through chain and sprocket gearing 9,which may be made of stainless steel or phosphor bronze. Each of'the shafts 8' carry-at its 7 front ends beyond the frames 5' a bevel spur wheel 10 meshing with a bevel pinion -11 ro 'tatable on a transversely disposed transmission shaft 12 provided'at one end with fast and loose pulleys 13." The forwardends of theshafts 8, al'so have mounted thereon spur wheelsfl l which mesh with spur wheels 15 fixed to winding barrels '16 rotatably mounted on the frontend of the trough or vat "1, and such windingbarrels 16 carry between an eye 18 at the lower end of a double ended lever 19 pivoted at 20 to the front wall of the trough or vat' 1. The upper end or arm of the lever 19 is pivotally connected by a link 21 to a collar 22 slidable with a sleeve 23. which is itself slidablyseoureclto the v {transmission shaft 12 so as to rotate therewith, and said sleeve23 carries at each end a hog: clutchf 24 adapted to engage one or other of dogs25 associated with the pair of bevel pinions 11. The upper end of the double ended lever 19 is weighted or formed with a transverse ,arcuate slot 26 within which a rotatablejor'rolling weight 27 is when the material7 has :beenialmosti'un wound from one'ofthe rollers 2,"one'of said buttonsj28 by'the winding of. said tape or cord 17, engages the lever 19 and rocks it over asindicated in Figure 1.' In lieuof employing buttons on the tape or cord, 1 may employ grips such as the one "illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, said slide grip 45.

' comprising a metal plate having a serrated or toothed slot 46 formedtherein with the underside of the teeth" bevelled or inclined as shown to' afford a seating for a'rod or tube 4L7 around which the tape or cord 17 passes.

In order to fix the slide grip in' any predetermmed position on the tape or cord 17,

the latterislooped or-doubled'and the looped -or doubled portion passes through the serrated or toothed slot 46, whereupon the rod orf tube 47 is inserted in the loop and the tape or cord 17 pulled tight. WVhen the tape 17 is running and the slidegrip 45 arrives at the slot 18 in the lever 19, it cannot pass through and therefore rocks said lever 19 over intothe opposite position. The rock ing over of the lever 19 has the effect of pull-'- ing or pushing the sleeve 23 along the transmission shaft 12 so as to disengage one of the ,dog clutches 24 from the dog 25 associated' with its adjacent bevel pinion 11 and bring the. other or opposite dog clutch 24 into gear with the dog 25 associated with the other bevel pinion 11,-thereby reversing the drive to the rollers 2 and causing the material 7 to bewoundback on to the roller 2 from which it has just been unwound. It

"will be observed that-only one roller at a time is driven by the'shaft '12,namel that uponwhich the fabric is beingwound, the other roller and'its associated gearing being driven by tension of the-cloth only} The duty of the cordor tape is simply to control the knockoff. It takes no p'aru in' wind-.

ing the fabric. During the'rocking of the 'lever'19, the rolling weight 27 travels from one end to the other of the arcuate slot 26 and servesto retain the lever 19in position I and the appropriate 'dog'jolutch 2% in gear .7

until the said lever 19 isagain rocked about 7 its, pivot 20. A fixed weight orgravi-tyi bob may be used to perform the same service.

For the purposeof preventing slack winding or 'over-runnlng of the material 7 and for regulating the tenslon thereof, the rear ends of the shafts 8 are fitted'with' brake drumsf28 having adjustable brakerbands or straps 29 connected to'bracket s 30 on the sides of the trough or vatl. I The dye or other liquid in the trough or vat 1 isadapted' to be heated by steam sup plied by wayof a pipe system 31 leading into .largercopper or other pipes 32 runninglon- "gitudinallyof the trough' or vat 1 and con-, stitu'ting a return for the products of con-f densation.

' Referring now to Figures 3 40f the drawings, 15 represents theiiirst Wheel of the train of gears and 16 the winding barrel associated therewith whilst 33 indicates the resilient means in the form of a'spring 'mounted between the gears 15 and winding barrels 16, see Figure 3. The outer end of the spring 33 is attached to the gear-wheel 15"at 34, whilst the inner end is secured :to the winding barrel'lfi at35. The arrangement will be such. that the spring may be readilyremoved and replaced, thus allow- "ing for di'flerent'stren'gths of springs being fused accordingto the nature of the fabric or materlal being treated.

The fabric or material is kept moving on the rollers dur ing the whole operation, one rolier acting as the drawing roller the other as the drawing roller and -the other as the drawn roller alternately, the tension of the brake on the rollers being so arranged that only the drawn roller for the time being shall be subject to the action of the brake and the drawing roller being free from such restraint. Thus, the brake drums 28 may be carried upon free wheel devices in such a manner that when the roller is acting as a drawing roller the brake drum 28 is free to revolve on the shaft 8, whilst when acting as a drawn roller the brake drum 28 will be locked to the shaft. A brake strap 29 may be fixed over the drum and an adjustable pendant weight provided to reg ulate the required friction.

The gears 15 of the train of' gears associated with the batch rollers are mounted on sleeves 36 revolving on pins or studs 37, whilst the winding barrels 16 revolve on sleeves 38 fitting over the sleeves 36. The gears 15 and winding barrels 16 are held together by lock rings 37", whilst the only connection between the gears 15 and winding barrels 16 is the spring 33. It is necessary in order to obtain smooth running that the fabric should be entirely responsible for actuating the drawn roller, receiving no assistance from the rope or cord, the only function of which is to determine the length of traverse between the stops.

Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the winding surfaces of the rollers 2 are afforded by longitudinally disposed and-radially projecting resilient members 38 which give or bend under the tension of the material 7 being wound thereon, as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. The rollers 2 comprise brass or other metal end plates 39 formed with peripheral flanges 40 which carry between them wooden or other staves or laths 41. The end plates 39 are formed with centrally disposed bosses 42 whereby the roller 2 as a whole is mounted on the shaft 3, whilst one or more wooden or other discs 43 intermediate of theend plates 39 and mounted on the shaft 3 serve to support the staves or laths 41. The longitudinally disposed and radially projecting resilient members 38 are made of rubber or other appropriate resilient material and are supported in position by having their inner edges secured between-the adjacent longitudinal staves or laths 41. In the embodiment shown at Figure 5, the resilient members 38 are in the form of single strips, whilst in Figure 6, the resilient members 38 are in the form of looped or folded strips, the two edges of each strip 38 being secured between adjacent staves or laths 41 and the outer or looped portion presenting a rounded or curved surface to the material 7.

The end of the material 7 may be attached to the roller in any appropriate manner such,

for instance, as by means of a clamping or securing bar 44 bolted or otherwise secured to one of the staves or laths 41.

It is evident that the resilient members can be in continuous strips along the whole length of the roller, or the continuity may be broken at intervals and the tongues thus formed may be regularlyspaced. The intervals of successive lines may be stepped so that the space of one line is occupied by a tongue in the next continuously round the roller. An improvement on this resilient roller consists as shown in Figure 8, in overlaying the projecting resilient strips 38 by a soft india-rubber sleeve 48 which by enclosing and slightly compressing the resilient strips 38, increases the effect as a resilient roller, giving an even surface upon which to wind the fabric.

With a machine as above described, the treatment of tender or light materials in open width can be attained without subjecting them to any considerable tension such as obtains when such pieces are dyed over a winch. It is found that light fabrics are much less prone to crease when wound upon a resilient surface than when a hard roller is employed. Moreover, the fabric not being under severe strain, any creases which may form are not severe and are easily removed in the subsequent tentering. Moreover, the machine enables a small quantity of concentrated or other liquor to be used for the treatment of a comparatively large amount of material, while such treatment being conducted almost or entirely under the surface of the liquor tends to conserve heat and in consequence the utilization of steam is greatly reduced. Further, surface oxidation is largely eliminated and the utilization of heating elements in a machine as above described enables an actual boiling temperature to be attained.

A further advantage arising from employment of machines as above described is-that either of the rollers upon which the material is wound may be readily removed in its frame and transferred to another machine of similar type for subsequent treatment,

thus two machines may be employed, one for the mordanting process and the other for the dyeing operation. a

I claim r v 1. A dyeing or like machine of the type specified, comprising in combination a vat for the dye, alternately driven winding rollers in the vat, and adapted to be submerged in the dye therein, winding barrels geared to the winding rollers, a tape carried between the winding barrels, sliding clutch mechanism for reversing the drive of the winding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and to'be actuated by said tape.

2. A dyeing or like machine of-the type specified, comprising in combination a vat for the dye, alternately driven winding rollers in the vat in position to be submerged in the dye therein,windingbarrels geared J to the winding rollers, frames in which said w nding rollers andassociatedygearmg ar mounted, guides in the vat for receiving said trames a tape carried between the winding barrels,'sliding clutch mechanism for reversing the drive of the winding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and be actuated by said tape.

3.A,dyeing or like machine of the-type specified, comprising in combination a vat for the dye, alternately driven windingroll ersin the vat, in position to be submerged in the dye therein, brakingmechanism associated with the winding rollers, winding barrels geared to the windin rollers a ta 3e o b 1 drive of the winding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and be actuated by said tape.

5.- A dyeing or specified, comprising in combination a vat for the 'dye, alternately driven winding rollers in the vat, in position to be submerged in the dye therein, winding barrels,

, a gear associated with each winding barrel and geared to the winding rollers, resilient means between each of the wmdmg. barrels andsaid gear, atape earned between the winding barrels, sliding clutch mechanismfor'reversing the dr1ve of the winding rollers, and a pivotedlever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and be. actuated by saidtape.

6Q A dyeing or like machine of the type specified, comprising in combination a "vat for the dye, alternately driven 'winding rollers inthe vat, in position to bev submergedin the dye therein, winding barrels,

gearingconnecting thewinding barrels and r the winding rollers, acoiled spring between the winding barrels and said gearing, a

tape carriedlbetween-the w1nd1ng barrels,

sliding clutchmechanism for reversing the drive of thewinding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operate said, clutch mechanism and be actuated by said tape.

7, A dyeing orlike machine of the type i like machine of theitype specified, comprising in combinationja; vat

merged in the dye therein, a resilient wind:

ing surface on each winding roller, winding barrels geared to the winding-rollers, a

tape carried between the-Winding barrels, V

sliding clutch-mechanism for reversing the drive of the Winding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operatesaid clutch mech anism andbe actuated by said tape.

8. A dyeing orlike machine of the type specified, comprising incombinationfa vat for the dye,'alternately driven, winding rollers in the vat, in position to be submerged and radially projecting resilient members on each winding roller, winding barrels geared to the winding rollers, a. tape carried. be-

tween thewinding barrels, sliding clutch. mechanism forreversing the drive of the winding rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism andbe actuated by said tape.-

9. A dyeing or like machine oi the type specified, comprising-in combination a vat for the dye, alternately driven winding rollers in the vat, in position. to be submerged in the'dye therein, longitudinally disposed and radially projecting resilient members on each Winding roller, a resilient. sleeve enclosing the longitudinally disposed and radially projecting resilient members of each winding roller, winding barrels geared to the winding rollers, a taPC carried between. the winding barrels, sliding clutchfmeche anism forreversing the drive of the,wind-. ingrollers, anda pivoted lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and be. actuated by said tape. 7 V I I CHARLES SAMUEL BEDFORD.

. vs0 in the dye therein, longitudinally disposed 

